The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, rejecting President Donald Trump's attacks on the voting practice, CNN reported.
The "unexpected rebuff" in the 5-4 ruling in Watson v. Republican National Committee, was considered a defeat for Trump and Republicans, who have argued that the method should not be used before the midterm elections in November, according to CNN. Trump has asserted that there is widespread fraud involving mail-in ballots, despite no evidence of these claims.
"The president has repeatedly and falsely equated lengthy vote counts with 'cheating,' including in a recent NBC interview in which he complained about ballot processing in the Los Angeles mayor’s race," CNN reported.
Eighteen states and territories, including Mississippi, allow mail ballots to be counted even if they arrive after Election Day, NPR reported. Another twelve states extend that window specifically for ballots coming from overseas, such as those cast by military members. The grace periods exist to protect voters from delays caused by the Postal Service, bad weather, or other unexpected disruptions.
The high court wrote in its decision that "nothing in the federal election-day statutes requires ballots to be received by election day."
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